Per Diem Judge Opportunities

Third Circuit Court – Application for Per Diem District Judge

The District Family Court and District Court of the Third Circuit, Hilo and Kona are accepting applications from attorneys interested in serving as per diem District Judges. Please submit a letter indicating your interest to:

Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution, applicants must be residents and citizens of the State and of the United States, and must have been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Hawaii for a period of not less than five years preceding nomination. Please be advised that the Commission on Judicial Conduct has indicated in a formal opinion that any per diem judge and his/her partners and associates may not practice in the court to which the per diem judge is assigned. Furthermore, pursuant to the Hawaii State Constitution, government employees (federal, state, or county) are disqualified from serving as per diem judges. Additionally, once appointed, per diem judges are prohibited from holding other public positions for profit (.e.g, teach at the William S. Richardson School of Law).

Per Diem judges are part-time judges appointed by the Chief Justice on an “as needed basis” to preside in the District Court or Family Court.

During their term of service, a per diem judge may still engage in the private practice of law. Compensation is received only for the days which actual service is rendered.